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How much do you remember the greatest unexpected moments from World Cup qualifying campaigns? Try this quiz to see the number of questions you remember.

World Cup Qualifying Quiz

1. Question 1. In 1973, Poland keeper Jan Tomaszewski delivered a number of blocks at Wembley Stadium to deny the home team a berth at the 1974 World Cup. He had been described 'a circus clown with gloves' by which England manager?

   • Alf Ramsey
   • Brian Clough the manager
   • Manager Don Revie
   • Ron Greenwood
   Reveal Answer

2. Question 2. France's biggest FIFA World Cup disappointment occurred in 1993, when they failed to make it after losing their final two matches at home to the Israeli team and ...

   • Team Bulgaria
   • Romania
   • Team Sweden
   • Luxembourg team
   Reveal Result

3. 3. Who did Gerard Houllier blame at fault for the French team's loss, describing him 'the killer' of their World Cup dreams?

   • Eric Cantona
   • Ginola
   • Goalkeeper Bernard Lama
   • Didier Deschamps
   Show Result

4. Question 4. During 2006, which two African countries made their only World Cup showings to this day after beating the Senegalese team and Nigeria in qualifying?

   • Togo with Angola
   • Botswana with Zambia
   • Libya and Tanzania
   • Ethiopia and Mali
   Show Solution

5. Question 5. Italy, the 4-time World Cup winners, have not managed to make it for the World Cup since 2014. Which team eliminated them from the playoffs in 2022?

   • Sweden
   • The Swiss team
   • The Portuguese team
   • North Macedonia
   Reveal Solution

6. Question 6. Which side made it in front of the Mexican team for the 1982 FIFA World Cup, only to lose their opening match 10-1?

   • Canada
   • Cuba
   • The El Salvador team
   • The Honduran team
   Show Answer

7. 7. The 1982 edition World Cup had a few surprise participants. Which team secured their only FIFA World Cup appearance to this day with an 89th-minute leveller against New Zealand?

   • Haiti
   • Iraq
   • The Kuwaiti team
   • UAE
   Reveal Solution

8. 8. You will probably remember that a Thierry Henry's hand ball helped France make it at the Ireland's cost in 2009. But which player did Henry pass to to get the goal?

   • Player Anelka
   • Benzema
   • William Gallas
   • Govou
   Show Result

9. 9. The sole men's FIFA World Cup Argentina have attempted and failed to qualify for came in 1970. What nation got their place?

   • Brazil
   • Colombia
   • Peru
   • Uruguay
   Show Answer

10. 10. Román Torres' 88th-minute winning goal against Costa Rica won a exciting FIFA World Cup 2018 place for what nation?

    • The Honduran team
    • Mexico
    • Panama
    • Uruguay
    Show Result

11. 11. What role was Peter Hore have in Australia's away-goals defeat to the Iranian team in a play-off for the 1998 FIFA World Cup?

    • Known as a serial troublemaker, Hore ran onto the pitch and broke a goalpost net with the Socceroos leading 3-1 on total. The pause in the game allowed Iran to get back into the match and score two late goals.
    • Socceroos defender Hore scored own goal that put the Iranian team through the finals at Australia' cost.
    • As Australian foreign minister, Hore stopped the team from going to Tehran city, leading to a 3-0 defeat they could not overturn in Melbourne.
    • Peter Hore was a ex Australian assistant coach who moved to Iran's coaching team prior to the playoff matches.
    Display Answer

12. Question 12. Australia at last ended their long drought for a 2nd FIFA World Cup participation by defeating what team on a shootout in 2005?

    • The Iranian team
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Uruguay
    Display Answer

13. 13. The Netherlands side whose 'total football' amazed the world in 1974 almost didn't qualify, rescued by a disputed offside call against ...

    • Belgium
    • The Czechoslovak team
    • The English team
    • Yugoslavia
    Show Result

14. 14. Returning in 2009, who scored a late decisive goal for the Argentine team against the Peruvian team in heavy rain to revive their qualification bid?

    • Player Higuaín
    • Player Mascherano
    • Lionel Messi
    • Palermo
    Show Answer

15. 15. In the famous 'Gualtieri match' in 1993, how many goals did England require to beat San Marino by to have a hope of making it for the FIFA World Cup?

    • 3
    • 5
    • Seven goals
    • 10
    Display Answer

Check your own memory of these famous FIFA World Cup qualifying events and discover the number you answered correctly.